The Politics of Power

Website Vooweb.com provides the biggest collection of professional Web 2.0 Templates. Web 2.0 Templates - its a website templates which made by world-class designers. Buy our Web 2.0 Templates | A family cooking recipes with hundreds of healthy, whole-food cooking recipes for the home cook. Healthy Food cooking Recipes For Your Entire Family

The Politics of Power

October 14, 2006

NY Times Editorial

Electric rates for most of Connecticut's customers have risen more than 30 percent in the last two years. That fact guaranteed that the cost of power would surface as a topic in this year's gubernatorial race between Gov. M. Jodi Rell, a Republican, and her Democratic challenger, Mayor John DeStefano of New Haven.

Next year's rates were due to be announced by the state Department of Public Utility Control before a legal deadline of Oct. 1. But in a move we'd like to include among things we'd rather not see during an election campaign, the department has conveniently delayed the announcement of rate increases, widely seen as inevitable, until December.

The department said it took this unusual step because the cost of energy is going down, and if portions of utility companies' energy contracts could be rebid, consumers would benefit.

Rejecting bids that meet all the legal standards could discourage future competitors, thus increasing the likelihood that Connecticut will continue to have electricity rates among the highest in the country. And it doesn't help appearances that two of the five department commissioners, the chairman and vice chairman, donated at least $1,000 each to Governor Rell's election campaign.

In the end, the commissioners' action may not guarantee lower rates. But it almost certainly guarantees an increase in public cynicism, and that is never a good thing.